ANDAMAN SHEEKHA EXCLUSIVE Some businessmen device mechanism to avoid Octroi; PBMC assures early action

Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Jan 13: While the Municipal Council suffers from acute fund deficit to execute developmental projects, traders in the city and South Andaman region have devised a mechanism to dodge the agency from paying octroi tax.
Large amount of cargo particularly hardware and electronic items imported from mainland for trading in the local markets are reportedly unloaded at Mayabunder, tax free zone, and later transported to Port Blair by road.
The arrangement has been reaping huge profits for some traders, but divested the Municipal Council of funds generated by Octoi tax, one of the crucial revenue generation modes.
As per the modus operandi, many traders import products like steel rods and other construction materials from Kolkata and book tonnes of cargo on ships bound for Port Blair via Mayabunder.
On arrival at Mayabunder Jetty, the businessmen unload the consignment and book goods vehicles to transport the consignment to Port Blair by road to escape octroi tax on the imports.
In the absence of any Toll Naka and Tax Collectors at the entry points to the city, the traders easily transport the products to vend them in wholesale and retail markets. In the process, the Municipal Council is stripped of huge funds collected through Octroi tax from traders for importing products from mainland.
According to reports, the regular sailings of vessels from Kolkata to Port Blair via Mayabunder as per the schedule prepared by the Directorate of Shipping Services is promoting the unlawful import of products without paying taxes.
“We face a lot of pressure from a few high profile businessmen and politicians for deploying mainland bound ships via Mayabunder. We’re helpless and are forced to prepare such schedules,” said an official of the Shipping Department requesting anonymity.
Sometimes this excess Cargo is 30 Tonnes, sometimes it is 100 Tonnes, which can’t be for the local need of North and Middle Andaman, he added.
Speaking to Andaman Sheekha, the Chairperson, Municipal Council, Smt Sheela Singh said that a lot of complaints have already been received regarding such activities by businessmen. The issue will be placed before the Council meeting to implement some measures to prevent activities that cause losses to PBMC, she added.